Jeb and the Trust Issue

So Jeb Bush is “finally in” the presidential race. His initial strategy to lock up donors and thus scare off potential rivals has been a failure in this unconventional year.

In a conventional year, a former governor of the critical swing state of Florida with big donor support would be the automatic frontrunner. But this year is far from normal.

This year there is a full slate of very qualified GOP candidates vying for the chance to run against a very flawed Democrat candidate. Bush also faces the challenge of his family name and a few unpopular position statements on topics such as immigration and common core.

But these challenges could be overcome if he could win the trust of the GOP base and therein lies the problem.

Much of the GOP base is, frankly, fed up with the Washington DC GOP. For the last three elections, GOP leaders have promised to stand up to Obama if only voters would elect Republicans to office.

The voters have obliged and yet Republicans have voted to increase deficits, debt, and spending while simultaneously caving to the President on immigration, congressional appointments, and health care.

Where, pray tell, is the Obamacare repeal bill which should be sitting on the President’s desk, awaiting his veto?

There is a reason that Ron Paul and Ted Cruz are popular, and John Boehner and Mitch McConnell are not. Everyday Republicans have concluded that the GOP Establishment is part of the problem, merely a slower march to socialism than the President would prefer.

The establishment is tied to Jeb Bush like a boat anchor. Everything about him; family name, big dollar donors, professional campaign advisors; screams establishment.

Jeb has not helped himself in this regard with his attitude towards conservatives. He has let it be known that he will stick to his unpopular positions without compromise.

In Tea Party circles that translates to: “Not Listening.”

The Establishment always counts on conservatives to come home and vote for the “electable” moderate. But this year conservatives have serious substantial alternatives.